Hello Family, friends and readers of this blog. This blog we write, not with any negative comments, about what the differences are here, or in your part of the world. But rather, with many of the positive differences between here, and many parts of the world, with regard to sharing the Good News of Gods Kingdom.
I can imagine after the Study last week and this week, regarding having a zeal for the preaching activity, all of us are thinking about our attitude toward the work, and the degree of participation we have in it. We received some excellent counsel, regarding the fact, that perhaps some, have lost the sence of URGENCY for the work that is so important. Also, how we can renew our zeal for the work that saves lives.
Carol and I have been so amazed at the amount of activity that there is here in Cuenca, and, I would imagine in all of Ecuador. We haven't received the new Yearbook but I would have to imagine the growth rate in this land, to be in the 6-8% range. That's phenominal! All I can judge from, is what we see here, in the congregations and circuits in and around Cuenca. (there are 3)
For Example
The Webbs (you know who I'm talking about don't you) have between 11-15 students that are regularly attending the meeting in CHICKEN-TAD. (No, of course that's not how it's spelled, but for the rest of us thats how it's pronounced) The congregation has territory in the city of Cuenca, and in the country side where you have seen the Webbs preaching up and down the hills (ok Carl, ..... Mountains) The congregation about 5 months ago, separated the group in the country (Checa) from the congregation in the city and started to hold meetings. At the time my source informed me that they had about 205 at the meetings regularly each week that with about 130 publishers in the combined group. 40 went to the country and 90 stayed in the city. The 40 in the country, have about 80 in attendance each week, and the other 90 that are in the city, have in attendance 160! After just 5 months, they have an increase of over 15% in attendance! And each meeting, my source tells me, that they have new faces in the hall attending the meetings, yes of course, those are new persons studying, and progressing ! Well now they are in the process of perhaps forming the group in the country into a congregation.
Other Example
In the part of the city (To-to-ra-co-cha .... yes it's part of Cuenca) where the congregation is, that we attend. In September a new congregation was formed .... "Altiplano". When we started we had 76 publishers, now we have 90. Some new ones, and some have moved from other parts of the city. When we started we had in attendance, on average 115, now regularly we have in excess of 130. In ther congregation most of the children, we don't have a lot of little one most of the children and teenage youth are publishers. So the number in attendance, are not from a lot of children who are not publishers, coming with parents. The other congregations that the Altiplano congregation was formed from, have seen similar growth. (It's called "the make room in the Kingdom Hall, and then proceed to fill it again, program") About 8% growth in 5 months ... that's just for Altiplano congregation .... I can't speak for the other 2 congregations in exact numbers, but I do know, they too are experiencing growth. All this, while we pass through the territory, about once a week. Yes, the territory, is being worked to life! It's phenominal !!!!
One brothers method
One brother from the congregation, this afternoon ,stopped by for a few minutes, while here we talked about what was happening in the territory (he has several studies that attend). He made the point, that by working the territory so often, we are able to breakdown prejudices. Often people in the territory say, "they don't have time this morning", and then tell us, they will take time,
next time to talk. What he has been doing, is mentioning that, they told us
last time, they would take time,
next time, and
this, is the next time. He has had the opportunity to share the truth and start a number of new studies, reasoning with them in this way. (I'm robbing the method)
Tired of fishing where few fish are biting? Come to where the fish are biting!
Imagine yourself fishing, and sitting, and sitting with few bites, let alone fish being caught. A little boring isn't it. Well imagine yourself sitting there, and seeing other fisherman along the shore, with poles bent, and fish being caught. What would you do? Well back in the day when I used to go fishing, I would invade the area, and start to try to catch fish, in
that area. When it's hot, it's hot, and I wanted to catch fish.... Jesus said as his disciples, we would be
"fishers of men". Friends, the fish are biting, or rather the people are responding, and being pulled into the boat, I mean the congregations. Now another question. Can you see yourself moving to where the fish are biting, and, being caught, and in large numbers, where the fishing is fun and phenomenal ? That place is Ecuador!
Why Ecuador?
Other then the fishing aah preaching? Think about the options you have for
weather. In the mountians, if you don't get too much over 9000 feet in elevation, you can enjoy early summer late spring type weather, pretty much year round. Low humidity, nice rains every other day. Sometimes for 30 minutes, sometimes for a few hours. You seldom if ever, have that feeling of being sticky for the humidity. That would be our preference.... So it is, that we live in the mountains, the Andes to be exact.
You say you prefer a bit more heat and humidity? Well then, you have two options, you can enjoy the beaches along the coastline or the other option would be the orient... that is, the jungles of Ecuador, where you will find, waterfalls, rivers and exoctic birds and animals, that most of us only see, on National Geographic. There too the fishing, aaaah preaching work, is going very well. There are options between the area of spring like, and warm to hot climates as well and the fishing is good in those places as well.
Food
That's an important matter. At least it is to us. In Ecuador there is everything and then some. Everything you probably have in the developed world and then you have the exoctic food that are local to Ecuador or the tropical area. Food is not an issue here.
Restaurants
Tons of them. Various types of food and good quality. Clean and very reasonably priced. How reasonable? Well a gourmet meal, with wine and desert for 2 of you will go for $ 18-25.00 todo incluido! (everything included .... even taxes and tip)
Entertainment
Movies? ... Yup! Pretty much anything you can get in the developed world. Anywhere from $1.50 -4.50 for a movie, depending on the day of the week... Want popcorn, soda and a hotdog? .... add $3-4.00 for 2 persons
News? BBC, CNN, Fox News and of course Ecuadorian news and Latin world channels. TV programing that you have in some of those places as well.
Live music and concerts if that's your thing... Cuenca has it's own Symphony and it's good! $10.-15 for a ticket.
American sports too, if thats your fancy. Interesting thing here.... On Direct TV they have all the U.S. games, that you would pay extra for as a package. All the football (NFL), baseball (MLB), or basketball (NBA) programing they have, and people pay extra for back in the States. But the thing is, that here, no one really is interested in it, so they include it a part of the package you pay 40.00 a month for.
And of course if Soccer is your game, there is a ton of that on Direct TV, all inclusive in your package.
Outdoors? Cajas National Park is 30-40 minutes from here. (Cuenca) So if you like to fish for trout then you are in fishing paraíso. (paradise)
Golf?... I don't know, but I do know that you can do it in Quito or Guayaquil ....
How much? Sorry still don't know that one..... But if you have to play, it's available! And of course Direct TV televises all the PGA and other associations from Europe and So. America.
Sound Good? ..... It is.
Will there be challenges? Of course...
If you have followed this blog, you know we have had some pretty interesting stories/experiences. Ones you can laugh about, after the pain is over with .... Then all you have, is great stories to tell, over and over again, to all the new ones coming here.
Challenges
Well, if you don't speak
the language ... Spanish is the national tongue here. Of course you will survive, it's just that you will enjoy it more, if you know spanish, when you hit the ground. Preaching in Spanish or one of the other foreign languages, is where it's at. Here again, if you decide to come to live and serve in Spanish (that's what the branch will suggest, Spanish) you will learn, but speaking from experience, it will be a challenge, one that will be fun and scary, kind of like a roller coaster ride, right? Oh yeah, need I mention, humbling?
Cultural differences
Sure.. there's a bunch of them, but with time you do seem to get somewhat accustomed to them. You just learn not to focus on them. When you have 5-10 bible students, and some of them coming to the meetings, that's easy to do. You tend to focus on the positive spiritual side of things.
What more can we say?
There is so much need, thus the expression "Moving to where the need is great". If you are serving as a servant or an elder ... there is a ton of work to do in the congregations. With so many being formed, when a congregation gets more then 2, they usually are assigned to another new congregation, so they can take the lead. One of the DO's in the country mentioned, that
one of the greatest needs here, is for brothers that have experience. If you speak spanish, why not give consideration to your circumstances, make it a matter of prayer, and see if you can move to where the harvest is in full swing, and gaining steam. You can live on a fraction of what it costs in most developed countries, probably close to 20-25% of the costs in fact. If you have a fixed income, perhaps a Social Security or other pension check, you will live better here, then in most lands, on that check.
If you lead a simple, but comfortable life as a couple, you should be able to live on a $1000.00 a month in Cuenca. Rent will cost you anywhere from $150-350.00, depending on where you would want to live. All utilities, gas, electric, water, trash, TV, internet will run about 200.00. Food and entertainment $300.00-400.00. Transport (public) $20-80.00 depending on bus or taxis being used. If you have your own car, gas here is about 1.50 a gallon. Cars as you know from previous blog, are expensive here ... used or new they are over priced.
One other thing to consider. There will be set up costs. Furniture, appliances, dishes and cookware, bedding etc. If you pack and bring it, we spent about a 1200.00 to get some stuff here (our bedding, bathroom, and kitchen appliances, along with pots and pans) and then we spent another 5000.00 for the major stuff, like furniture and appliances (the large ones) to get setup. So that must be in your budget as well. There are places that are furnished, however you dont have the choice of furniture or bedding etc... but then you don't have the setup costs either... Some recent arrivals, the Souza family, are renting an apartment for 350.00 a month furnished.
Check out this site for additional information about Cuenca... and possible rentals as they are advertised on the site often. http://cuencahighlife.com/
Sound Interesting but want to check it out first?
That would be wise. Something that may interest you is, the assemblies we have here in English. The principle one is the District Convention usually at the end of July. Also starting this year there is a Special Assembly Day in March. These assemblies are lovingly put on by the Branch. A mini International Convention each year! Brothers from all parts of the world, who have come to serve here in Ecuador, are in your company. What a blessing! It's soooo encouraging and upbuilding.
After the convention, plan time to check out an area where you think you could live. Also, plan time to visit the branch, and talk to the brothers about your desire to serve in Ecuador. You can get a packet of information from the branch, that will help you obtain your Visa, from the government. Once here if you decide to stay for years, you can keep renewing your Visa, that the branch helps you get. If you want to get your residency, that's possible also.
Don't know the Language?
You'll learn, the society has articles about what to expect, in our magazines.
Also here in Cuenca, there are brothers who can provide the Accelerated Language class. The class can get you up and running, with the BASICS of the language, and get you preaching in Spanish, right away. There was in fact, just completed, the first class in Cuenca. Perhaps if you decide to come, and enough other brothers also, another class can be conducted. The class is really fun, and while taking the class you can get credit on your field service time to boot..... if your a pioneer.
If you would like more information, you can can write. The response may not be immediate, but I will try to get back to you.
If you can't make the move, but know someone who could, or, may be interested? Please send them this blog site! Yes you can share it with others. There's no copywrite here.
As Jesus said "the harvest is great, but the workers are few, therefore beg the master of the harvest to send more workers". That's what we are doing ...... Can you come, and share in the great harvest here in Ecuador? If it's your desire, to serve in a greater way during the last days of this system. We encourage you to take steps that Jehovah can bless, in harmony with your desire to serve, where the need is great.
